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Performance-led inquiryÌýinto legacies of gender equality in higher education

This study day exploredÌýgender equality at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ since the 1860s, featuring a re-enactment performance of prospective students’ admissions experience before 1919. Set against the turbulent backdrop of women’s fight for equality in Britain, we invited reflection on the hidden ‘passing-in’ rules still in place for women and minority groups in higher education.

This event was co-conceived and produced by Dr Georgina Brewis, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Institute of Education and Dr Nina Pearlman, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Culture. It wasÌýaÌýcollaboration betweenÌýa number of academic modules and was supported by Institute of Advanced Studies, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Culture °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Press, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Institute of Education and °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Special Collections.

This is part of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Art Museum's family of projects Curating Equality and °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s Grand Challenge Justice and EqualityÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýcoincided withÌýthe 2018 publication ofÌýthe revised edition of and the Disrupters and InnovatorsÌýexhibition at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Octagon Gallery.ÌýÌýThis event took place on the 21 November 2018, 'Passing In: An audience with the Lady Superintendent for Women Students' was performed again by inviation at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Festival of Culture in June 2018.ÌýPlease find the programmeÌýhere.

The projectÌýis incoporated into a module led by Georgina Brewis at the Institute of Education 'The Worlds of °×С½ãÂÛ̳: Critical Histories of Education, Nation and Empire.

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Performance: Passing In: An audience with the Lady Superintendent of Women Studies

Dr , a professional historical interpreter, tookÌýon the role of Miss Rosa Morison, Lady Superintendent of Women students (1883-1912) and, in full costume,Ìýled participants on a walking performance of °×С½ãÂÛ̳. This re-enactment immersed participants in °×С½ãÂÛ̳ as it was between 1883 and 1919. All intending female students had to present a reference, in person, acceptable to the Lady Superintendent of Women Students. In 1883, birth control activist Annie Besant famously failed this test and was refused admittance. Intersections of gender with class, race and religion will be explored.ÌýDuring the event, participants hadÌýthe opportunity to present themselves to Miss Morison, using stories taken from historic student records or by creating their own.

Discussion panel: Passing in today?Ìý

An evening panel followed the afternoon of talks and performances and usedÌýtheÌýhistorical notion of ‘passing in’ as a means to discuss what might still be hidden passing-in rules in higher education, in terms of gender but also religion, race, LGBTQ+ identity and other intersections of identity, questioning theÌýrole played by networks and other diversity initiatives. Miss Morison (Kate Vigurs)Ìýopened the evening . The following speakers took part in the event:

• , Women’s Officer, Students’ Union °×С½ãÂÛ̳Ìý and undergraduate °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Neuroscience and Japanese
• Manya Eversley, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Political Science undergraduate involving in making on Jewish student identity
• Professor Uta Frith, cognitive neuroscientist; co-founder of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Women network; and one of the ‘Female Firsts’ selected to mark #°×С½ãÂÛ̳Vote100
• Anne Moore, Co-Chair of the largest staff network at °×С½ãÂÛ̳, LGBTQ+ Equality Advisory Group; Business Development Manager, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Centre for Languages & International Education
• Xueyan (Juno) Sun, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ History PhD student working on representations of China and Chinese people in Hollywood
• Professsor Ijeoma Uchegbu, Pro-Vice Provost - Africa and The MiddleÌýEast; Chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience; Provost’s Envoy on Race and Equality.

The information provided reflects the students' studies and academics' roles at the time of the event in 2018.

Teaching:ÌýThe Worlds of °×С½ãÂÛ̳: Critical Histories of Education, Nation

This project is incorporated into the module 'The Worlds of °×С½ãÂÛ̳: Critical Histories of Education National and Empire' led by Georgina Brewis at the Institute of Education.ÌýThis course approaches the study of the history of education through the lensÌý°×С½ãÂÛ̳, founded in 1826 and the Institute of Education, founded in 1902. It provides context to the historical evolution of the educational system in the UK and critically examines the close, but often hidden, connections between British education and empire, asking what impact these imperial legacies have today. It aims to provide a general introduction to the history of education, while preparing students to take more specialist history modules in year two and three. The course is structured in a broadly chronological fashion but each week also explores a different method or approach to studying, researching and making history.Ìý Students will be introduced to a range of transferable practical skills that are linked to assessment. It draws on °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s rich libraries, archives and museum collections and works in collaboration with colleagues in °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Culture and °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Libraries, Archives and Special Collections.Ìý

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